State Requirements for CO Alarms

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas that is harmful to humans. It forms when there is incomplete fuel burning.

Consuming too much CO can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. The increase in CO poisoning has become a common cause of poisoning deaths. To solve this issue, state and local governments have put safety laws in place for the number of carbon monoxide detectors in a home.

The laws and regulations vary by state, but they are beneficial to know. This blog discusses the different state requirements and compliance codes for carbon monoxide alarms.

As said above, the carbon monoxide detector requirements by state depends on each individual state and local government. In 2025, 48 states had some form of CO implementation or code requirements. The only states that do not have these requirements are Kansas and Hawaii.

States with Carbon Monoxide Legislation include Washington, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, Virginia, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Delaware.

States that have both CO and Smoke and Fire Legislation include Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Most states have either Carbon Monoxide or both smoke and carbon monoxide legislation. These states require installation of CO alarms in all newly constructed single and multi-family dwelling units.

Some states like North Carolina only require carbon detectors in fossil fuel-burning devices. Some states like Nebraska and Georgia require the installation of devices only during a sale or renovation of a property.

Several states regulate carbon monoxide alarms through state fire or building codes. While other states leave the fire and building codes to local governments.

States including Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia and Wyoming follow the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC promotes quality and safety by providing requirements for the construction of one-and-two family dwellings.

Certain states even require the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in hotels and motels under the legislation. Some of these states include New Jersey, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington, and Kansas.

While CO alarms have certain state requirements, all carbon monoxide alarms must comply with specific safety standards. These safety standards are:

UL Standards

The Underwriters Laboratory sets the UL2034 standard for single and multi-family dwellings. This standard states CO alarms should sound when exposed to levels of carbon monoxide. UL standards also sets required exposure times and detection intervals.

A combination of a smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, or combo alarm, must adhere to UL 217 standards. UL 217 is a safety standard for smoke alarms. It tests the responsiveness of the alarm and provides stricter nuisance alarm criteria.

NFPA Standard

The NFPA also offers a standard that CO alarms should follow as well. The NFPA 72 is a standard that has requirements for CO detection and warning equipment to protect occupants from carbon monoxide poisoning.

CSFM Standard

The CSFM standard states that all CO alarms must be approved before being used in a space.

There are multiple types of carbon monoxide alarms that can be installed in residences.

One type of alarm is a Plug-In CO alarm. Plug-In CO alarms plug into standard wall outlets as a power source and monitor the space from the outlet. They typically have a battery backup in case of a power outage. They are great for kitchen areas, garages and basements.

Battery powered CO alarms are another type of alarm. They use batteries as their source of energy so they do not need the home's electricity. Since they are battery powered, they can be placed anywhere in the home. They are great for bedrooms, near fuel-burning appliances, and attached to garages.

Another type of CO alarm is a hardwired CO alarm. These alarms attach to the home's electrical system and monitor CO levels. They typically connect to the fire alarm system to provide alerts throughout the home.

Hardwired CO alarms are very reliable because they are less likely to disconnect unlike other alarms. These alarms are great for new constructions, home systems, and multi-story homes.

The last type of CO alarm is combination smoke and CO alarms. These alarms detect both smoke from fires and carbon monoxide. They can be battery-powered, hardwired, or plug-in.

Combination smoke and CO alarms are cost effective and provide versatility. They can be used in bedrooms, homes with attached garages and rental dwellings.

Find Rely Safety's Carbon Monoxide Alarms today at HomElectrical!

The state requirements for CO Alarms vary depending on the state. However, carbon detectors are very helpful especially when CO levels are reaching life-threatening levels. Hopefully, you are more knowledgeable about the state requirements.